Contents

Biology

Tangela is a Pokémon covered by blue, seaweed-like vines that obscure its face. There is a small opening in the vines that reveals its eyes surrounded by a black space. The vines give Tangela a round shape, but it is unknown what it looks like without them. Its vines are covered in fine hair and are always growing. If damaged or lost, replacements are grown. There is a pair of red boot-like feet poking out from under the vines, but no visible arms.

Tangela can ensnare and entangle anything that moves too close to it with its vines. The vines constantly jiggle and sway, unnerving enemies and causing a tickling sensation if ensnared. Tangela's vines will snap off easily and painlessly if the target pulls on them, so it can quickly escape. Tangela can usually be found in temperate grasslands.

In the anime

Major appearances

In Pokémon Scent-sation!, Erika used a Tangela during her Gymbattle against Ash. It is a strong Pokémon that manages to use its vines and Stun Spore in order to incapacitate the opponent. During the battle, it managed to take out Bulbasaur by using this combination. Erika then recalled Tangela when Ash sent out his Charmander. A second Tangela was seen in Celadon Gym. Erika's Tangela also appeared in I Choose You!, which is set in an alternate continuity of the main series; it was seen battling Pikachu but was defeated.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Tangela physically debuted in Blame it on Eevee. Like her counterparts in other media, Erika of Pokémon Adventures has a Tangela in her arsenal. This Tangela goes by the nickname of Angela in the English translations, or Mon-chan in Japanese.

Trivia

Origin

Due to the mystery around Tangela's appearance under its vines, it may be based on the swamp monster from the short story "It!" by Theodore Sturgeon. In addition, it may also be inspired by the Sargassum seaweed monsters written by the English writer William Hope Hodgson, which inspired monsters in Japanese pop culture.

Its Pokédex entries state that its vines will entangled with its surroundings. This may be a reference to thigmotropism, a biological reaction plants have towards contact that encourages them to coil around objects they touch as they grow, allowing stability in their stems and branches.

Name origin

Tangela may be a combination of tangle and -ella (A common suffix used in botany).

Monjara may be based on もじゃもじゃ mojamoja (shaggy or unkempt) or 毛むくじゃら kemukujara (hairy or densely covered in thick hair). It may also include monster.